Mindoro Island — Apo Reef Scuba Safari

Apo Reef Natural Park, off the coast of Sablayan in Occidental Mindoro, is the second-largest contiguous coral reef system on Earth after Australia's Great Barrier Reef, and the largest atoll in Asia. This two-day scuba safari ventures out into the Mindoro Strait to dive a reef so vast and remote that it teems with pelagic life rarely seen on more crowded sites.

The big draw is the powerful pelagics: schools of barracuda, trevally and tuna, plus reef sharks patrolling the drop-offs and chance encounters with mantas, thresher and even hammerhead sharks. The reef shelters around 400 species of coral and 385 species of fish, with steep walls and pristine hard-coral gardens that drop dramatically into the blue.

Because Apo Reef sits roughly 30 kilometres offshore, this safari typically includes an overnight to maximise dive time and reduce long boat transfers, with the desert-island setting and lighthouse adding to the sense of remote adventure. Currents can be strong, so the trip suits Advanced divers craving big-water, big-animal diving away from the crowds.